Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley gutted through injury on Monday Night Football, delivering a hobbled but highly efficient performance in the Eagles’ 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Barkley said afterward that his hamstring “came out great” and he does not believe his back issue will keep him out moving forward.
Saquon Barkley (Credits: ESPN)
Saquon Barkley Hobbled But Efficient Against Cowboys
Barkley entered the game managing a hamstring injury, having missed the previous two games after hurting it in a Week 4 loss to the Rams. He tweaked the hamstring again on one of his first runs of the game — he said his leg got pulled on an early carry — and then suffered a compensatory back injury as his body adjusted.
Despite that, he was remarkably productive in limited work: seven carries for 62 yards and one rushing touchdown, plus two catches for nine yards. He exited in the third quarter after managing the workload on what head coach Nick Sirianni described as a pitch count, with constant communication between Barkley, the doctors, and the trainers about how he was feeling.
“He’s tough as heck,” Sirianni said of the All-Pro back.
Eagles’ Fifth Straight Loss as Barkley Battles Injuries
The loss was Philadelphia’s fifth consecutive defeat, dropping the Eagles to 2-5 entering Week 8. Barkley himself expressed frustration with the recurring injury troubles, saying he just has to find a way to get healthy.
The Eagles now face a short week before traveling to play the Washington Commanders on Sunday, with Barkley’s availability uncertain as he nurses both hamstring and back ailments. For now, though, the star back’s own assessment offers hope: the hamstring held up, and he does not expect the back issue to sideline him.
Also Read: Cowboys Beat Eagles 38-21 as Javonte Williams Runs for Career-High 155 Yards on Monday Night Football | Dream’s Smesko Backs Reese, Fed Up With Refs Missing ‘Ridiculous’ Contact in Game 5 Loss
Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
